Warm Up Exercises (Taiso)

The
class forms a circle going up in seniority in a clockwise direction.
The newest student is to the left of the instructor.
The instructor counts to eight twice in Japanese as the
exercises are done. Note
that the first count of each set is the number of the set so the
second set starts with ni, ni , san, …

Stand
with feet at shoulders distance apart, lean forward with arms
straight, palms facing back, and the hands shifted to the left.

The arms are kept straight while being swung to the right in a
large circular motion while pointing the hands to the right with
the palms facing forward.
The torso should be straightened and turned to the right.

Continue swinging the arms to and overhead position while
rotating the palms to face up.
The back should be arched and the head leaned back to
look straight up.

Continue swinging the straight arms to the left in a large
circular motion while pointing the hands to the left with the
palms facing forward. The
torso should be straightened and turned to the left.

Continue swinging the arms downward leaning forward with arms
straight, palms facing back, until the hands pass the legs and
are shifted to the right.

The arms are kept straight while being swung to the left in a
large circular motion while pointing the hands to the left with
the palms facing forward.
The torso should be straightened and turned to the left.

Continue swinging the arms to and overhead position while
rotating the palms to face up.
The back should be arched and the head leaned back to
look straight up.

Continue swinging the straight arms to the right in a large
circular motion while pointing the hands to the right with the
palms facing forward. The
torso should be straightened and turned to the right.

Continue swinging the arms downward leaning forward with arms
straight, palms facing back, until the hands pass the legs and
are shifted to the left.

Stand
with feet wider than shoulders apart, the elbows bend and the palms
together in front of the body with the fingers pointing up.

Turn 45º to the left and bend the left leg while keeping the
right leg straight. The
feet should be pointing in the direction being faced.
Lower the torso by pushing the heel of the right foot
towards the floor while also pushing the wrists towards the
floor (the fingers should be kept pointing up).

Relax and Lower the torso by pushing the heel of the right foot
towards the floor while also pushing the wrists towards the
floor.

Relax and Lower the torso by pushing the heel of the right foot
towards the floor while also pushing the wrists towards the
floor.

Relax and Lower the torso by pushing the heel of the right foot
towards the floor while also pushing the wrists towards the
floor.

Rotate 90º to the right and bend the right leg while keeping the
left leg straight. The
feet should be pointing in the direction being faced.
Lower the torso by pushing the heel of the left foot
towards the floor while also pushing the wrists towards the
floor (the fingers should be kept pointing up).

Relax and Lower the torso by pushing the heel of the left foot
towards the floor while also pushing the wrists towards the
floor.

Relax and Lower the torso by pushing the heel of the left foot
towards the floor while also pushing the wrists towards the
floor.

Relax and Lower the torso by pushing the heel of the left foot
towards the floor while also pushing the wrists towards the
floor.